Drones

 

Advanced Israeli drone tech that’s taken militaries by storm now eyes civilian use

An advanced immersive-technology Israeli drone company, which has recently won multiple tenders with the Israel Defense Forces and the U.S. Department of Defense, is eyeing new paths to enter the civilian security market, an executive has told JNS.

Xtend has built the Skylord Hunter mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), developing it for the operational requirements of the Israeli Ministry of Defense and America’s Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office (CTTSO). It has also created two other types of advanced quadcopters.

Both militaries have placed multiple orders for the Skylord Hunter, particularly earmarking it for its ability to intercept hostile drones. On the border with Gaza, the IDF has used it to intercept some 2500 arson kites and balloons.

Xtend employs a virtual-reality (VR) headset and a single-handed controller—reminiscent of a game console—that operators use to point into the space around them and direct the drones to their expected locations.